An Introduction to the College Planning Process What Parents of Sophomores Should Know!

The THS Counseling Department Introductions The THS Counseling Department Caitlin Foran (A-Def) Jim Shea (Dei-Lea) Michelle Grady (Leb-Pe) Lanham Miller(Po-Z) Cherie Richards, Secretary *Caseloads will be shifting again - notification will be sent at the end of the summer*

Objectives of today’s program: Relieve anxiety about the college search process. Encourage reflection, research and planning. Learn what you can do to assist your student.

T H S Class of 2017: 76% of students attended 4 year colleges 16% attended 2 year colleges or vocational programs 8% went directly to employment or military Class of 2018: 72.9% of the class have applied to at least one 4 year college, over 368 acceptances thus far Class of 2017 SAT DATA: ERW Mean 583 Math Mean 579 This year over 100 students are taking AP tests.

Why talk about this now?? Finding the best fit takes preparation and exploration! There are over 4000 colleges/universities out there!!

The Steps in College Planning Searching Testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT) Visiting Applying

High School Course Preparation (preparation for college, NOT for graduation from THS) Minimum 4 English 3 Math ( through Algebra II) 3 Science 3 Social Studies 2 World Language 1 Fine Arts

High School Course Preparation cont. More Selective colleges 4 English 4 Math (1 course beyond Algebra II) 4 Science 4 Social Studies 3-4 World Language 1 Fine Arts STRONGEST CURRICULUM POSSIBLE

College Admission Criteria Grades/Curriculum SAT/ACT scores Essay Teacher recommendation(s) Counselor recommendation Extracurricular involvement **The importance of each of these criteria varies widely by college!!!

PARENTS, How to help your student be successful Provide a good place to study. Help your child set goals. Stay informed. Check the Parent Portal, THS Counseling web site and use Naviance Student. Encourage daily attendance. See report cards. Help with time management. Stay in touch with teachers.

What can a Sophomore do NOW? READ Know themselves- abilities, goals, interests. Get the best grades possible. Take the most challenging courses possible. Be willing to refine study skills. Stay involved and seek leadership opportunities. Record activities and honors for a future resume.

What can a Sophomore do NOW? cont. Use a variety of resources for gathering information. Plan ahead. Take advantage of all opportunities. Ask questions. Keep in contact with their counselor!

Naviance Student formerly known as Family Connection Naviance is a comprehensive K-12 college and career readiness platform that enables self- discovery, career exploration, academic planning, and college preparation for students. THS uses Naviance Student to facilitate communication and collaboration among students, parents and counselors. It allows counselors to track and analyze data about counselee’s post-secondary plans.

How is Naviance Student accessed? The easiest way to access Naviance Student is through the Tolland High School web site, Quick Link to School Counseling, Naviance Student link on left. www.ths.tolland.k12.ct.us

How do you register? STUDENTS: All students have been using Family Connection for their annual goals. Some sophomores have also completed their career interest inventory.

How do you register? PARENTS: Parents were emailed a registration code yesterday. Use code to create a personal account Codes are random and alphanumeric for security reasons Codes can be used only once On your first visit, you will see a prompt that says “I need to register”. Follow on-screen instructions. If parents do not have codes, please contact your student’s counselor.

Looking ahead to JUNIOR year Maintain a strong academic curriculum. Take the PSAT– Wednesday, 10/17/18. Details in the fall. Encourage students to meet with the college reps that visit THS Attend the College Planning Workshop with your student (evening program – mid-November 2018). Visit college fairs and college campuses. Refer to the THS College Planning Calendar.

THS Counseling Department: Thank you for coming. Please do not hesitate to contact your student’s counselor at any time with questions. THS Counseling Department: 860-870-6836 cforan@tolland.k12.ct.us jshea@tolland.k12.ct.us mgrady@tolland.k12.ct.us lamiller@tolland.k12.ct.us